Maarten Rongen studied at the Amsterdam Conservatory with Jan Pustjens (solo percussionist) and Jan Labordus (solo timpanist) of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, and for drums with Ton Rooyers.
During his percussion studies, he attended various masterclasses and workshops for marimba with Keiko Abe, Leigh Howard Stevens, and Robert van Sice, and for drums with Louis Bellson, Simon Phillips, and Rick Latham.
He graduated in 1989 as a teaching and performing musician. Maarten Rongen served as a timpanist with the Amsterdam Wind Orchestra, with which he made several CD recordings.
Since 1982, he has been active as a freelance percussionist, and since 1980, he has been working as a percussion teacher at various music schools. Currently, he teaches at music schools in Diemen, Vleuten, Breukelen, Maarssen, Uithoorn, and De Ronde Venen (including Mijdrecht) and conducts project-based workshops at elementary schools. As a conductor, he was associated with the percussion groups of the Bovenkerk Music Association, Amstelveen, Linfano, Linschoten, and De Adelaar, Weesp.
Maarten has been the conductor of the percussion group of the Abcouder Harmonie for over 15 years and is also a sought-after jury member for stage, march, and soloist competitions, a national committee member for music exams, a coach at various music associations, and he gives clinics and workshops for (amateur) percussionists. Additionally, Maarten composes for various percussion ensembles.
